The day government announced to close down schools as a
measure to ward off this deadly virus, the problem started sounding real.
Although the initial reactions were mixed, and some people thought that the
administration should have waited some more time to take such a decision, but
soon the wisdom of this decision dawned on all. The way this deadly virus
wreaked havoc in countries like Iran and Italy, made it clear that the only
defense against this disease is to stay home, and minimize human interaction as
much as possible. Just a day or two later, government closed down more public
spaces like parks and restaurants, besides issuing advisories against public
gatherings. In the same line of action it was further decided that in some
areas teaching staff will not be asked to come to schools. All this,
cumulatively means that government wants people to stay home, and stay safe. If
the measures taken by the more affected countries is any indication it is just
the beginning. In China, where the virus first struck, the only way it has
started receding, is the closing down of all public spaces. The pictures that
came from cities like Wuhan gives us a sense of how an entire population stayed
off roads, markets, and offices. Same is the case with other countries. Even,
as the reports suggest, the US is taking some harsh steps to fight this
disease. In this backdrop the question surfaces up that should the administration
in JK take more decisions to fight this disease. We have been lucky, till now,
that there is no spike in the case of corona affected patients, as the
statistics suggest. That means we have
some breathing time. The pattern of the spread of this disease suggests that
after an initial lazy unfurling, it suddenly goes up and hits a huge number of
people. This means that before it, God forbid, spikes, government should close
down the public spaces that are not performing any emergency services. After
all if there is no class work, why ask the staff to come and be present.
Similarly the staff in many offices performing no emergency duties can be asked
to work from home, and connect to the office online. Here we need to remind the
authorities that normal internet services should be restored before yesterday.
Not doing so means playing with the lives of the people.

One more step that is badly needed is to disallow people
from visiting patients in the hospitals. Only those who attend the patients should
be allowed to stay in the hospitals. And in case of hospitalized patients, if
any of them can be managed at home, should be discharged. We still have time,
before it hits in a manner it has in other countries. These are not usual
times. In abnormal situations, extraordinary decisions are taken. So the
government shouldn’t dally in taking a decision as to which offices, and public
spaces, are to be kept open for emergency purposes. All other spaces need to be
sealed for the time being. This can allow the system to better fight the
pandemic. It is not a routine administrative affair, it is a life threatening
situation. Right now it seems we have not woken up fully; there is an element
of denial and that is dangerous. It is true we should not panic, but at the
same time we should do what needs to be done.

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